Improved apparatus for generating gas and heating dwellings and other buildings



Pa tented March 23, 1869.

Nor 88,079.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SILAS O. SALISBURY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS AND HEATING DWELLINGS AND OTHER BUILDINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 88,079, dated March 23,1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Sims (3. SALISBURY, of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have inventedbeing had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the letters of reference marked thereon, and making a part of this specification.

I This invention has relation to the construction of an improved apparatus, or combined gas-generator and heater, for use in churches, factories, dwellings, &c.

The objectof this invention is to generate and furnish, by means of one apparatus and from a single fire, a superior quality of gas, and at a small expense, suitable for illumination and for culinary purposes, and at the same time and by the same apparatus furnish heated air for heating the dwelling and hot water forall purposes required.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the whole apparatus, a part broken away to show the internal construction. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the grate, &c. Fig. 4 is a detached portion of the outer wall of the fire-chamber. Fig. 5 is a detached portion of the inner wall of such chamber.

The base -plate A and grate B are made of cast-iron, the latter formed with numerous separate openings, 41, for taking in air, substantially as shown in Fig. 3, so that the air will be supplied to the under side of the fire in separate iivided currents, and to all parts substantially alike.

For the purpose of receiving and supporting the outer; and inner walls or linings of the furnace, I prefer to cast or form the base-plate with two annular concentric recesses, which may be either sunken or have flanged edges, and which are separate from each other a litlgiout half an inch to an inch, in which space it a series of holes for the free admission of air, for the purposes hereafter mentioned.

Resting in an outer recess referred to, and extending entir ly around the fire-chamber,

and projecting upward about as faras the perpendicular sides of the fire -chamber, is a cast-iron plate, C, from half an inch to an inch in thickness, on the inner sides of which, or made a part of it, and placed at suitable intervals-say every two or threeinches-is a series of pipes or half round tubes, 1), which are open at the bottom to freely take in air, and closed at the top to prevent the air passing through them, but having along their inner sides a series of vertical holes, a, to allow the air to pass out horizontally. A section of one of such tubes is shown in Fig. 2, and a detached portion of the cast plate 0 and its tube bin Fig. 5. Within'such cast-iron plate, and in contact with the inner sides of the tubes 1), and resting in the inner recess before mentioned of the base-plate, is placed a ring of tire brick, I), which also extends entirely around and forms the inside wall of the firechamber E, and through which are also made perforations (1, corresponding in position with the holes 0 in the tubes 1). By means of such arrangement of air-tubes b, perforated as described, and the perforated fire-brick D, air is constantly supplied to the fire chamber E in divided jets on every side of the burning fuel, and at the top thereof, and at different places below. Large quantities of air are thereby not only continually supplied to such chamber, but it is presented to and distributed through every part of the burning mass, and as such air becomes highly heated before it reaches the fire-chamber, by passing through the tubes band the perforated fire-brick, such chamber is, in fact, continually supplied with -ahot blast; and to assist in so heating the air, the tubes 1) may be filled with fine gauze asbestus-cloth, which can be kept constantly very hot without being destroyed. By thus supplying the fire-chamber on every side, and on the top of and at different points in the burning fuel, with jets of heated air, the decarbonization of the fuel commences, or is carried on from the top and from the outside, instead of from the bottom and center, as usual, and an intense heat is produced, while the combustion is slower, and the combustion being most actively carried on at the top and sides of the fuel, the grate-bars remain comparatively cool, and are thereby made more durable.

The inside surface of the fire clay ring D should be fluted, as shownin Fig.4, so as to prevent the fuel Closely packing against the brick and interfering with proper distribution of the air.

The quantity of air admitted to the chamber E may be regulated and controlled by a sliding plate, F, by which the mouths of the tubes 1) may be more or less contracted and closed. Such fire-chamber E is wholly arched over with fire-brick, as shown in Fig. 2 in section, (a suitable opening, E, being made therein to allow the feeding the furnace,) through which arch numerou s perforations, f-generally about half an inch in diameter-are made, to allow the carbonic oxides and products of combustion generated therein to pass into the outer or combustion chamber, H, which is also.

supplied with air from below through the spaces or openings 9, which are between the iron plate 0, the fire-brick I), and the air-tubes I), and in passing through which spaces the air becomes highly heated. A section of one of such openings g is shown in Fig. 2.

The air supplied to the combustion-chamber II, becoming highly heated while passing thereto,is rendered lighter than the carbonic oxides continually entering from the fire-chamber E, and an intimate mixture or union of the air and gases takes place, utilizing the whole, and producing their complete and perfect combustion. The heating-power of the chambers E and 11 may be much increased, and the combustion of the fuel rendered more complete, by admitting into such chambers, through the tubes 1) and openings 9, heated or superheated steam, by means of a pipe, 0, perforated or fitted with jet-pip es under such tubes and openings.

lu continuation of or placed just outside of the plate 0, a wall, 0, formed of fire-clay rings, is carried up or nearly up to the top of the structure, forming a chamber very durable, and capable of sustaining a high degree of heat without injury. NVithin this chamber, and a little above the arch of the chamber E, three iron retorts or rings, 1 2 3, about six inches in diameter, which extend around the chamber, and which are so arranged that the oil, gas, or vapor hereafter referred to passes first into the lower retort and through its entire circuit, and then into the second and through its entire circuit, and then into and through the circuit of the last retort, before passing to the washer F. Resting upon or placed above these retorts is a closed vessel, G, the bottom of which is conical, having a small cup at its apex. Into this cup is conveyed, by means of the pipe n, a constant supply of some hydrocarbon oil, which, as the cup gradually overflows, is spread out upon the conicalbottom of the vessel G, and is converted into a vapor-gas before it reaches the bottom.

WVithin such vessel G, I place also a pipe, j, kept supplied with hot water, and which is perforated with small holes. As such water drops on the heated bottom of the vessel Gr 0. is a series of orifices, Z, for the admission of it is instantaneously converted into steam, and decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen, which become united with the vapor of the oil.

The several gases of oil and water thus produced in the vessel G are conducted therefrom by means of a pipe, 7r, to the lower or first retort, through which and the succeeding retorts they are passed, as above mentioned, and in passing through which they become fully or completely mixed and united, and are converted into a perfect fixed gas. By this combination and mixture of thehydrocarbon vapor and the gases of the decomposed water, I make both a more perfect and a cheaper gas.

Enough water should be supplied to furnish sufficient hydrogen to take up or mix with the carbon of the oil and prevent all smoking as the gas is burned, but not enough to so much reduce the gas to impair its illuminating qualities. I have found from actual trial that a proportion of water about one-third in bulk compared with the oil furnished highly satisfactory results.

The gas is washed, and then conveyed to the gas-holder I in the usual manner, from whence it is taken or distributed where desired.

The arrangement of the water-pipe j and evaporatingchamber G with the retorts 1 2 3 furnishes also a simple and effective means of cleaning the several pipes and retorts. After making a sufficient or any desired quantity of gas, the supply of oil through the pipe h is stopped, and a larger supply of water is admitted through the pipe j, which is at once converted into steam, which, as it passes through the pipes and retorts, decarbonizes all the carbon that may have been left therein, and conveys the same into the washer. The effect of this operation is, that such pipes and retorts are entirely cleared, and the formation of hard incrustations is prevented, and the retorts thus protected from injury and destruction. By placing the retorts 1 2 3 in the upper or combustion chamber and away from the burning coal, instead of in immediate contact with or near the burning mass, such retorts will not burn out, as in ordinary cases, but will last very much longer.

For the purpose of securing a supply of heated air for warming'any dwelling or building, I place outside of thewall O, and generally about six inches therefrom, another wall, 0, which is best and cheapest made of fireclay rings, the space between "lllih walls be comes heated by radiation from; the inner wall At the bottom of such spaice or chamber atmospheric air, which, as it passes upward, becomes heated, and is then, distributed by means of pipes m where desired. A pan or vessel placed in such chambr r and supplied with water preserves the air A coil of pipes placed in srlch chamber, and in contact with or lying agai G, will heat water made to p" and thus furnish hot wate r other purposes.

llnst the hot wall ss through them, for culinary or oist, as desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

. 1. In combination with apparatus or retorts for the manufacture of gas, the application and use of a heating-furnace, consisting of an inner fire-chamber and an outer combustionchamber, constructed and combined substantially as described, with air-tubes and spaces between the walls of the fire-chamber, to supply air, or air and steam, to both such chambers, and the inner chamber being covered with or separated from the combustion-chamber by a perforated arch or top, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of a heating-furnace, constructed as described in the last claim, with the evaporating-vessel G and retorts 1 2 3, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The form and arrangement of the closed or evaporating vessel G, substantially as described, for converting the oil and water into gases, for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with the evaporatingvessel G, of the retorts 1 2 3, so arranged that the gas is compelled to travel through the enitire circuit of each retort, for the purposes set orth.

5. Placing the evaporating-vessel G and retorts 1 2 3 in the combustion-chamber, or away from immediate or close contact with the burning coal, for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination of the evaporating-ves- S. D. LAW, FRED. B. SEARS. 

